STAND. COM. REP. NO. 283
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 992
S.D. 1
Honorable Donna Mercado Kim
President of the Senate
Twenty-Seventh State Legislature
Regular Session of 2013
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 992 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIVESTOCK BIOSECURITY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a low interest biosecurity loan program to assist livestock and poultry operations by mitigating the costs associated with installing biosecurity measures as required by federal programs.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Ulupono Initiative, and one individual.
Your Committee finds that biosecurity measures serve to protect the health of poultry and livestock from diseases, pests, and pathogens by reducing their introduction into farm operations and subsequently, the food supply. Federal programs have been trending toward increased infrastructure requirements for livestock and poultry programs; however, these requirements impose financial burdens on livestock and poultry farmers. This measure will help ease that financial burden by authorizing the issuance of biosecurity project loans to qualified farmers through the Department of Agriculture's agricultural loan program.
Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 992, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 992, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,
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____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair |
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